Denman news 'exciting' - Smith

BHA handicapper Phil Smith is delighted by the news that Denman could run in this year's John Smith's Grand National.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has revealed that the Gold Cup winner will be entered for the Aintree marathon and is coming round to the idea of running him after bidding for a second successive Cheltenham win.

The most recent Gold Cup winner to take part in the National is Master Oats in 1995, when he finished seventh, and Smith admitted an appearance by Denman will vindicate his efforts in recent years to improve the quality of the line-up.

"It's very exciting news for the race and obviously it will make me think a bit," said Smith.

"It's the culmination of everything we have been trying to achieve for the last 10 years as we have been trying to get the better horses to run.

"Ten years ago, the highest-rated horse in the race was 150 and now it could be 182 so it is really fantastic.

"At the bottom end, the lowest-rated horse in 1999 was 110 and last year it was 138, so the race has improved by two stone in 10 years.

"It's great for the sponsors as they are putting a lot of money in and they deserve the best horses.

"I suggested they dropped the top weight to 11st 10lb from 11st 12lb and that has been accepted by everyone and obviously that has encouraged Denman's connections.

"Obviously all the news is about Denman but I suspect there will be a lot of other exceptionally good horses in there as well.

"Denman's entry will make the race but I also think the race will be the making of Denman so it is great news all round."

Denman has not been seen since his Cheltenham success after being diagnosed with a fibrillating heart in the autumn.

However, the nine-year-old is expected to make a full recovery and should reappear within the next six weeks as part of his Gold Cup build-up.